Some news photos are so rich in symbolism they're almost like Renaissance paintings in how much they communicate.

Such an Associated Press photo appeared on the front page of the New York Times's national edition.

Itâs a picture of the scene after a bombing in Baghdad yesterday. Adding to the chaos of the bombing which killed at least 21 people and injured at least 66 was a shooter, maybe targeting people in the crowd.

Amid all the Iraqis who are running from the gunfire was a U.S. soldier, standing tall, perhaps looking in the direction of the gunshots, not apparently looking for cover.

An Iraqi boy seeks shelter behind the soldier, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.

I wonder, Cal, what would be the result of a poll of the troops bearing the burden of this campaign to passify Iraq? Do you suppose their desire to finish this job would have any influence upon the leftist political exploiters of the DNC? No, Reid would still be seeking how to bring about democrat victory through our military's defeat. The bastard.

7
posted on 05/30/2007 10:50:58 PM PDT
by MHGinTN
(You've had life support. Promote life support for others.)

I second that. I've seen some awful videos/pictures on the internet lately from that part of the world--a failed beheading of a man, a homicide bomber's head blown off, a 12 year old beheading a man, a young girl stoned to death. Most days I don't even think about our poor guys over there and what they have to face. Some days it hits me like it did on Wednesday. I had just recently seen all these horrific things on the internet and then Mark Levin was playing the traditional songs from each branch and thanking our military for what they are doing. Our military are truly the best. It's awful that so many in our government try to undermine their mission.

We don’t see enough in the media about the special relationship between the soldier/ Marines and Iraqi children. Soldiers in Ramadi tell me that the kids aren’t afraid of the US military as the kids know that even in a gun battle the soldiers always avoid hurting children.

Throwing candy to the kids is disallowed because that would draw kids out into the street when Humvies are going by. But the kids do make signals that they want soccer balls thrown out to them and smile and wave at the convoys. They also climb and hang on the soldiers and Marines on foot patrol.

Also not reported enough are the many thanks our forces get from the local Iraqis for being here and saving them from being overrun by AQI.

The symbolism would have been even more arresting if it had been an Iraqi politician hifding behind a US soldier. Unfortunately they're all too busy packing for their two month summer vacation while our soldiers continue to die at nearly the highest rate since March of 2003. There have been only 3 months since then where more US troops have died.

There is so much symbolism in this picutre that I will not attempt to describe it in words, The old saying that a picture is worth 1000 words, well in this case, the picture is worth an entire volume of U.S. History yet to be written.

i tell you something...that guy has a pair...i am no coward, but i am not even in the junior leagues compared to that chap...f***** fearless warrior...i bet my house he is the type of guy that never has his rifle on auto...his idea of opening up is a 3 rounder...and spot on..no shaky hands there...jeeze what an image...

i know there is a lot of in house competition marines, vs 82 vs 101 vs rangers etc...but thanks sweet Jesus we have each and every one of them...god bless them all..

35
posted on 05/31/2007 3:24:26 AM PDT
by Irishguy
(How do ya LIKE THOSE APPLES!!!!)

There are TWO boys sheltering behind our hero. See that boy in the shorts to the left of the soldier, in the top picture? Look at the second picture and you will see his legs on the right behind the soldier. Most of his body is covered by the kid in front.

My son says the people over there just love us. The kids think we’re great.

39
posted on 05/31/2007 3:38:54 AM PDT
by Jemian
(PAM of JT ~~ "There is no honor for the man who runs from battle." Spc. Josh Lott)

It was a picture of a cop rescuing a kid in the Daily News back in the sixties that inspired me to try the NYPD. This should be seen by every all our young...America at its best.

And, as an aside, a reminder that war journalists deserve some credit for their own brass. Too often freepers trash these guys, especially on threads about one of them killed or kidnapped. Somebody put his life in the soup to bring us this image.

49
posted on 05/31/2007 4:47:13 AM PDT
by wtc911
("How you gonna get back down that hill?")

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